The weather was for once perfect on Friday April 26th as Leyton Orient WFC Over 70s travelled the well trodden route to The Hive to take on old rivals Barnet in the first round of the WFA Cup.

After a minute’s applause for the recently deceased club members Mary Mullins and John Austin, Orient started the 40-minute tie with Everett in goal, Martin at the back, Stevenson, J.Barrick and Skaith in midfield, and Green up front.

In a ding-dong first half six goals were shared in quick succession, starting with Barnet’s first in a break down the middle, answered immediately by Barrick’s fine finish into the top corner on his 70s debut. Green then put the O’s ahead but Barnet hit back with a fierce low strike from distance following a free kick. Next a defensive howler allowed the home side to take the lead, only for Green to end a breathless twenty minutes’ football with an excellent sharp turn and shot to equalise. Half-time score: Barnet 3 v 3 Leyton Orient.

As the two sides regrouped at the interval another youth-team product, Brooks, and Schneider came on for Martin and Barrick. Slowly Orient grew more composed at last and went back in front with Skaith’s smart interception and shot. When the same player, set up by Schneider, then put Orient two to the good before receiving a second warning, the O’s looked comfortable for the first time. Orient then saw out an eventful game with Everett keeping a second-half clean sheet and C.Conlan coming on to provide an outlet for the last few minutes. Final score: Barnet 3 v 5 Leyton Orient (Green 2, Skaith 2, J.Barrick).

Injured skipper Tongue said afterwards: “This was as close as most of our games with Barnet, uncomfortably so in the chaotic first half, when we often gave the ball away too cheaply and neglected the simple pass. But the second half was much better and the substitutes did particularly well, showing the strength of the squad. All five goals were well taken and gave us a total of sixteen in three competitive games this season. We now look forward to the next round of two national cup competitions and the start of the Essex League on Tuesday morning when the first opponents will be – Barnet. Our thanks to our old friends at Barnet for their usual hospitable welcome and to referee Richard Andrews for his empathetic handling of the game.”

Leyton Orient Over 70s Squad: Keith Everett (Gk), Gary Martin, Tony Brooks, Steve Skaith (Cpt), Phil Stevenson, John Barrick, Gerry Schneider, Colin Green, Chris Conlan.

Goalscorers: Green 2, Skaith 2, J.Barrick.

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Image used © 2024 Steve Tongue

Location

The Hive, Camrose Ave, London HA8 6AG, UK